SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC

24 January 15, Chamonix, France

The first stop of the 2015 sees the Freeride World Tour head to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

The tour will consist of five venues in total for the men and four venues for the women. The Pyrenean resort of VallnordArcalis, in Andorra, will host both men and women skiers and snowboarders, and the notorious mountains of Alaska, USA, will see a smaller group of men skiers and snowboarders just before the finals and the 20th anniversary of the “XtremeVerbier” in Switzerland!

“We are very proud to announce the two new venues added to three already existing and exceptional FWT events. The local organizer at the Pyrenean resort VallnordArcalis of Andorra has organized a very successful freeride event since 1998, the El Dorado Freeride, one of the most popular 4-star Freeride World Qualifier events. The terrain is spectacular and there are some great faces for an all-star FWT competition. Regarding Alaska, it’s the epicentre of big mountain riding and every freerider’s dream to go there. The first extreme skiing competitions were organized in Alaska back in the early nineties and that is where the whole freeriding competition scene started! Since we launched the Freeride World Tour in 2008, we have desired to organize a competition there. We are so excited to finally make it happen,” said Nicolas Hale-Woods, Freeride World Tour General Manager and Founder.

The Freeride World Tour season 2015 will start off at the mecca of freeriding, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France, January 24, 2015, then head to Austria and FieberbrunnKitzbühelerAlpen, January 31. One week later, the athletes will take on VallnordArcalis in Andorra for the first time, February 14. After the event at VallnordArcalis, there will be a cut for Alaska, USA, with 60 per cent of the men skiers and snowboarders qualifying. In Alaska, there will be a longer weather window to ensure the best possible conditions, March 14-22. The exact location in Alaska is yet to be confirmed. Again 60 per cent of the riders after Alaska will qualify to the grande finale and the 20th anniversary of the XtremeVerbier, March 28! The women qualify directly to Verbier after VallnordArcalis.

Marco Vaccari, Head of Marketing International with Swatch, commented: “We’re delighted to see the Freeride World Tour developing and exploring new territories that will challenge and push the riders to even greater performance levels. The new stop in Andorra promises to be an excellent addition to the Tour after several very successful years hosting Freeride World Qualifier events. Alaska brings another step up – it’s awesome sports territory and is bound to jack up excitement to new heights. And of course we’re very happy and proud to see the Tour wind up the 2015 season in Verbier, Switzerland – home country for Swatch!”

The 2014 season saw some interesting changes in the leader board with the greatest example of rookie LoïcCollomb-Patton of France crowned Freeride World Champion in Men’s Ski his first time on the tour. 16 male skiers, 8 male snowboarders, 7 female skiers and 4 female snowboarders are qualified to 2015. Invited wild cards to the full season and to single events will be announced at a later stage.

Eric Pansier, VP Marketing The North Face® EMEA, said: “The North Face® is very supportive of the decision of the Freeride World Tour organizers to continuously strive for the highest standards possible for the sport and maintain a tour of events that will embody what Big Mountain freeriding means for the community and will inspire the global wider audience. In particular, a new stop in the demanding and stunning terrain of Alaska will give us a very strong opportunity to lead the sport to a new level and show the world what the essence of this event is all about.”